New dawn arrived.
Zhu Dingxiang and the caravan group depart from the Hunter Village and continue their journey to Blue Lake Town. Lush green vegetation grew on the two sides of the road, along with the giant trees.
The autumn breeze carried an earthly aroma, lingering rainwater creating many small puddles on the main road.
After a stormy night, with the earth's nurture, numerous tenacious tiny buds had blooms beautifully as they drink from the rain.
Many frogs croaked on the puddles of stagnant water, palm-sized dragonflies resting on the blooming wild blossoms.
Butterflies of various colors fluttering their beautiful wings on the gentle morning breezes.
Fist-sized bees were busying themself collecting sweets nectar and blessing every flower they pass. They were buzzing the choir of nature, appearing happy and carefree.
Just like this, time passed by quickly. Zhu Dingxiang and the group would rest at night in a village and departed the following day.
He was also getting closer with Qiao Qiuyue after these two weeks traveling together. Sometimes she would smile in front of him, and he would sometimes tell jokes with her.
Even though there was nothing much to talk about between them, he enjoyed their quiet time together.
One could argue that they had become close friends.
...
"The season is changing slowly, and summer has began taken its rest as autumn is coming." Zhu Dingxiang said as he peacefully gazed at the old trees; their lush green leafs slowly transitioned to a golden-orangey color.
'It's too fast...' He thought.
On the contrary, Qiao Qiuyue was distressed by the strange feeling inside her heart.
Mounting on her horse, she looked upon the back of Zhu Dingxiang. Just being by his side, she feels unnaturally calm and relaxed.
It's just that she can't figure it out, this current mood she was feeling.
'In the end... was it his strength? His appearance? or was it the light and hope that I see when he saves me?.'
'He was the same age as me, but the difference between us is so vast.'
'I wonder what kind of person he is...' Then she remembers the time they spend together in these short two weeks. He would help and cure people every time they stopped by a village.
The image of Zhu Dingxiang playing with the little kids played in her mind.
'Granpa Feng...'
She then thought of the deceased grandpa Feng, who died to the Berserk Demonic Bear while trying to delay some time for her to escape. The old man was a grandfather figure to her.
'It feels heavy; my heart feels heavy.' Her eyes slightly moist; a droplet of tear threatened to form on the edge of her eyelid.
'Simply thinking back makes it hard for me to breathe.'
In her entire life, she spends the entirety of her days diligently practiced martial arts and cultivated. She always put on a cold front in front of others and acted like a Qiao family's well-mannered daughter.
Many try to court her, hoping for marriage because of her looks and status. Some would look for flaws to use against her mother.
'In the end, I was only a loner and a pretender.'
__________
Clear Jade province, Iron Blood City, this place was where the army is most concentrated in the Thunderbird Empire's southwest direction.
The city was enormous with more than two million people; it mainly served as a military base to watch over the border between the empire and the Colossal Mountain Forest.
One could say that Gods favored this city with its terrain; the two sides are a natural fortress filled with an almost endless mountain range.
With its towering 100 meters high metallic wall, the city looks incredibly majestic. Legend says that the blood of beasts that fall here has dyed the wall red throughout countless years, which was later renamed Iron Blood City.
Inside the city's most giant mansion, a man was sitting on top of a silver throne. He was a handsome-looking middle-aged man with a long black beard. His hawk-like eyes were sharp and intimidating, combined with a stern expression that demanded respect when one looks at him.
[Name: Wang Yun.]
[Age: ???.]
[Martial spirit: (High-grade Earth Rank) Infernal Steed.]
[Cultivation: Foundation establishment realm.]
[Cultivation technique: Art Of The Flood Dragon.]
[Description: Supreme commander of the southwest region, city lord of Iron Blood City, Spear master...]
Inside the city lord manor, the assembly hall was silent.
Sitting on top of the silver throne with exquisite carvings, Wang Yun looking down at the two rows of people, one was officials, and the other was generals.
A messenger was kneeling with his head touching the stone floor. His face was pale, cold sweat trickling down from his face as he senses the imposing gaze staring down on him from above.
There was only one word in his mind upon feeling that gaze.
'Unfathomable.'
The hall was so silent that they could only hear the messenger's heart beating. Perhaps it was a long time, or maybe it was just an instant.
The messenger finally hears the cold voice from above.
"So you are saying there may be a new Beast King in the Colossal Mountain Forest?" Wang Yun questioned. His tone was indifferent; not a single emotion could be sensed within those words.
The messenger was almost scared to death.
Ba-dump* Ba-dump* Ba-dump* sounds of the heavy heartbeat.
"Speak!"
With short breaths, the messenger finally gathered up his courage and said respectfully, "Y-yes, my lord."
The question was simple, but a heavy one, one wrong word, and he might be executed. Therefore the messenger tries to talk as little as possible.
"Recently, some of our scouts have discovered some weird movement within the Colossal Mountain Forest. Especially in some areas, the beasts had become restless." The messenger said despite his hesitation.
'The less I speak, the fewer mistakes I made.' Facing the renowned strict and fierce general, it was no small matters.
After finishing his words, the messenger kneeled motionless on the floor.
"I understand. You might leave now." Stroking the armrest, Wang Yun speaks coldly.
"Yes!" The messenger hurriedly bowed respectfully before walking out of the hall.
"What opinions do you all have about this matter?" Wang Yun asked in a calm tone.
"My lord! The matter regarding the Beast King is not a small matter; we must proceed with caution." An old official said politely.
"Hum, Ridiculous! What do you take us for?" A ferocious-looking general said with a smirk.
"My lord, your humble subordinate think that we don't have to worry much about the beast. Even if it gathers beasts and comes here, we will rain death upon them." Another general stepped out and said with a tone full of disdain.
"Impudence! Before our lord. General Huang! Who gave you the ball to acts with so much arrogance?" At this time, another old official stepped up.
"I'm not arrogant! Do you think that a mere Beast King could take down our defense? Do you looked down on our lord?"
"How dare you say that? The Emperor entrusts our lord to protect the Clear Jade province and its people. For you to suggest him to ignore the safety of the empire's citizens, do you want to rebel?"
...
"Before our lord, how dare you act so audaciously!"
...
The assembly hall was in an uproar!
The hall was split into two factions, mainly between the generals and the officials.
"Enough!" Following the voice, the assembly hall suddenly trembles, as if a heavy mountain was pressing against their back; everyone on the scene gets on their knees.
In an instant, the commotions within the hall vanished.
"We will dispatch more scout to confirm the matter of the Beast King! General Huang, you are to take the third squadron troops and patrol the border for unexpected attack!"
"Do not make a mistake!" Wang Yu raise his tone sharply.
With that, the meeting comes to an end.
(A/N: Beast King, it could be a spiritual beast with a prestigious bloodline, Rank 3 and above, that possessed the ability to control other low ranks spiritual beasts to follow its command. They are very rare.)
(Ex: how the Berserk Demonic Bear awakened the [Innate ability: Domination.] upon rank up could be taken as an example.)